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MESSIAH MEMOS Messiah Fairview Park Issue 7: September 2019

Education Opportunities Sunday Mornings this Fall

Second Sundays 2nd Sundays are a monthly inter-generational, family friendly event. They are designed to provide service, learning, and fellowship opportunities for people of all ages. Come and See!

The first 2nd Sunday of the fall will be Sunday, September 8. Join us in Messiah's Fellowship Hall from 9:50 to 10:40am.

Second Sunday Dates: * September 8 * October 13 * November 10 * December 8 * January 12 * February 9 * March 8

See page 5 for more details about the Sept. 8 event.

First Communion 5th Grade First Communion instruction is the first step in Messiah’s confirmation program. Students and their parents will meet with Pr. Seth in a location to be an-nounced on Sunday, September 8 at 9:50 am.

Confirmation 6th - 8th Grade Pastor Seth will meet with all 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students AND parents in the Sanctuary on Sunday, September 22nd at 9:50 am during education hour.

If you have any questions ahead of the Confirmation kick off meeting, please contact Pastor Seth at sbridger@messiahfp.org.

Adult Education

Gather in the Commons at 9:50 on September 8 for an overview of the year’s program and other Messiah updates. For a first glance at our fall offerings, see page 2.

Summer is over. Fall is here—

—so Messiah’s regular Sunday schedule

resumes on September 8, the Sunday after Labor Day.

8:30—Holy Communion

9:30—Coffee and Conversation 9:50—Education Hour

11:00—Holy Communion

(Don’t forget the Saturday evening service at 5:30, in the

Commons)

Education Hour Offerings this September

Sunday School Preschool - 4th Grade Sunday School for Pre-K thru 4th grade students will start on Sept. 15th The class meets in the 4th Grade Classroom located close to the double door entrance to the Gym. Registration forms are available on the table outside the Church Offices. A full schedule of this year’s Sunday School will be distributed during the month of September. Questions? Drop a note to Colleen Par-rott at munchkin_cw@hotmail.com.

_________

God’s Word for Children

A special offering for younger children during the 11 a.m. service on the third Sunday of the month. Begins on a trial

basis on September 15.

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FAMILY NEWS

BAPTISMS

Lucas William Portik Baptized: 7/7/19 DOB: 10/11/18 Parents: Nathan & Jenna Portik

Annabeth Rose Koza Baptized: 7/13/19 DOB: 5/29/19 Parents: Joshua & Ashley Koza

Rory John Ogilvy Baptized: 7/14/19 DOB: 4/6/19 Parents: Daniel & Emily Ogilvy

William Theodore Benson Baptized: 7/21/19 DOB: 5/11/19 Parents: Stephen & Allison Benson

WEDDINGS

Chris Norman & Liz Newell June 20, 2019

Kelsey Moran & James Dawson August, 24, 2019

Can’t make it to Church? Watch Messiah Services Online. Need Help Trying to do this?

We have a unique gift at Messiah for everyone. Can’t make it to church? Want to hear a sermon again? Want to hear a choir sing again? Want to

hear the message again? All of Messiah’s services are online. Not only for live streaming on Sunday morn-ings, but any time of day or night. You can watch the services live or anytime following the services. The hymns and music are scrolled for you to participate. Our weekly News & Announcements are included. You may even make a donation during the offering collection.

Visit messiahfairview.org and click on “Watch Ser-vices Online” at the top to stream the services. You can find the bulletin and news and announcements under the Communications” tab.

Confused? Don’t know how to get to our web page? Let us help you. Please call the church office at 440-331-2405 and a two member team will come to your home and help you get set up.

Are you interested in digging into corners of the Bible you haven’t visited in a while—and sifting through the riches of the Chris-tian faith as you do this? Here are three opportunities for that

kind of study at Messiah in coming weeks. All of them are open to anyone,

whether member, friend, or new acquaintance.

Sunday mornings, 9:50 - 10:40am In the Commons

Paul’s Letter to the Romans An exploration of what is arguably the most earth-shaking document ever written. It’s relevance to life in the 21st century cannot be exaggerated. The same is true of its role in defining the essential contours of the Christian faith. The discussion begins in earnest on September 15th, 9:50 in the Commons.

Wednesday mornings, 10 - 11am North End, Fellowship Hall

The Parables of Jesus Wednesday morning Bible study has been a fixture at Messiah for at least three decades, and probably long-er. These days it brings together a lively group of thoughtful students whose company you’re sure to enjoy and benefit from. Jesus used many stories and pictures to deliver the Word God sent him to com-municate. Many of these stories are familiar, others not so much. With many the point seems clear. Oth-ers leave us scratching our heads. One or two are commonly misheard or mangled. We’ll explore these parables this fall, beginning with the ones that class participants most want to study. (We’ll compile that list at our first session September 11.)

Wednesday evenings, 6:30 - 7:45pm North End, Fellowship Hall

Living the Word Christians take it for granted that God speaks to us through the Bible with a word designed for us to hear and use to Christ’s glory and our neighbor’s benefit. Yet these words were first spoken to other people at other times and in very different circumstances. So how to listen through them for the living voice of God addressing us? More to the point, how is God talking to us through the Scriptures we hear in church on Sunday—and how do we take that seriously when others don’t? Our study begins on September 18.

Adult

Education

Opportunities

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FROM THE PASTOR

When I go to church meetings these days, I often catch speakers asking the audience to think and talk together about “what God is doing” in our congregations or commu-nities. This topic became popular in our ELCA Luther-an circles some years back, and I’ve heard Missouri Synod

friends tossing it around too. The aim, I gather, is to get us past an old habit of failing to take God seriously enough as an actor in our everyday lives.

This habit afflicts most of us to one degree or anoth-er, I suspect. We spend our days swimming in a culture that believes fiercely in God’s irrelevance to anything that really matters. It’s only when the tornado blows my house to bits and leaves the neighbor’s unscathed that I start to wonder if God might be out there after all and feeling not so happy with me. Such are the ways of the world that infect God’s Christians too.

The flip side of this is a tendency to wait for some-thing dramatically nice to happen in my life before I credit God with favor and blessing. The child wins a full-ride scholarship to the school of her dreams, say. All the rest of it—the ordinary good stuff—I take simply for granted. It seems somehow silly to be giving God the high-five of praise every time you turn the washing machine’s knob to “On” and the thing starts to work.

Maybe this is why those conversations at church meetings so often miss a point I want to underscore with all of you this month.

God is very busy in all our lives, and no one needs to look very far at all to see “what God is doing.” Martin Luther wrote a small catechism once to help us teach this to our children. We all owe God a heap of daily high-fives for basic, down-to-earth gifts like “clothing and shoes, food and drink, spouse and children,” to say nothing of the simple fact that he wakes each of us up in the morning. Luther got this straight from the Bible, of course, and especially from Jesus, who reminded his disciples about it many times.

Not a week goes by when God isn’t doing all manner of wonderful things at Messiah too. The most wondrous of all is that God himself keeps showing up in all his gracious grandeur. This is the Father who sends his Son to wrap us in his perfection, and who in turn sends the Holy Spirit to either woo or jolt us

into believing this. Ages ago the devil seduced Christians into imagining that going to church was a duty they owed to God. It isn’t. Church is God’s chance to keep loving us with the everlasting love that drowns sin and pulls the fangs of death and finally shuts the devil up once and for all.

Church is God talking to us. Church is Christ renewing his life-giving claim on us over and over again. Church is the Holy Spirit turning us bit by bit into energetic, grownup agents of God’s breathtaking love for the people we rub elbows with in every one of the communities, small or large, that we belong to.

I can’t push church strongly enough, as you can tell by now—and yes, by “church” I mean these weekly gatherings of ours around Word and Sacrament, with songs and prayers and offerings and all the rest of it. On the surface it’s ever so ordinary. Yet nothing but nothing beats it as a place to discover “what God is doing,” and to find yourself on the receiving end of God’s doing at its best.

At the end of this month we’ll be celebrating 90 years of God’s best doing at Messiah, Fairview Park. I pray that each of you will let God do God’s best for you and for your children as our 91st year gets underway.

A closing thought: is there someone you can invite to enjoy God’s doing too?

--Pr. Burce

Two new Arch Acolytes named

Serving as an acolyte during worship at Messiah is both a privilege and a great honor. Responsibilities include lighting the candles, carrying the processional cross, and assisting during both Holy Communion and when the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is celebrated.

Two outstanding high school students have recently been asked to serve as Arch Acolytes for the coming year. Gavin Waugaman will serve as Arch Acolyte for the 8:30 am wor-ship service and Adam Digney will serve as Arch Acolyte for the late service. We give thanks for both Gavin and Adam’s acceptance of these leadership roles!

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Principal

Memos

September 2019

What a joy to be diving into a new year of service to students and their families! I thank God for their engagement, and I thank God for the support of our faithful congregation. We started the year with a gathering of staff and families at Bain Park (hosted by our Parent Teacher League), and have launched into 2019-2020 with a number of new students and families (and an increased enrollment).

Staffing Updates: We pray for God’s blessing on Nancy (Mrs. Z., our school lunch program director) as she moves to a full-time position at Sur la Table of Crocker Park.

Kayla Szabo will still be with us at Messiah, but is sifting from second grade to Title I tutor, and we look forward to having a trusted colleague in that role.

Kim Hilden, our preschool teacher, holds a masters degree in reading, and will be offering reading tutor-ing and support to Messiah students in the after-noons. Thanks to our preschool aide, Kim Patton, who will be joining us for extended hours.

We will be adding a counselor and speech & lan-guage arts specialist to our staff, and look forward to introducing them to you.

We were delighted to have many applicants for our teaching positions, and we are thrilled to welcomed Castanza Hartel to our second grade classroom. Mrs. Hartel built her teaching experience as a Title I teacher in

Wadsworth and long-term sub in Brunswick and Berea. She and her husband worship at Parma Lutheran, and he is a teacher with Parma Schools.

Chapel: Chapel is held every Wednesday (unless otherwise noted) at 9:00 am. All are invited to worship with us. Hope to see you.

2019 Ohio Test Scores: Our students in grades 3-8 took the Ohio State Tests in Reading and Math in the spring of 2019. Tests were also administered in Science (gr. 5 & 8). Our school’s average scores exceeded the state average scores in every test at every grade level, many by margins quite large. Many of our students scored in the accelerated or advanced range. We thank the Lord for the progress this reflects as he blesses the work of our students, families, and teachers. Though we are, by identity, not a teach-to-the-test school, we do use this data to inform our teaching practices as we strive each year to serve each student even better than we did the previous year.

We look forward to another year of serving our Lord by serving you and your family. May God bless you and keep you safe for the rest of the summer. See you soon!

Yours in Christ, Helen Casselberry, Principal

Messiah School PTL Updates

Meetings: 2nd Tuesday of every month Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 10

6 pm in the teacher’s lounge

We’d love to have you!

Officers for 2019 - 2020 President: Tara Toolis

Vice President: Diane McCarty Treasurer: Amber Catalani Secretary: Meagan Grauel

* PTL is now on Facebook and you can reach a PTL member through email. Come and check out our page and give us a "like!" (@messiahptl) to get updates on upcoming events or email us at ptl@messiahfp.org *

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SATURDAY EVENING POT LUCKS!

Everyone loves a good pot luck! Over the course of the last year, there have been several pot lucks held after the Saturday evening 5:30 pm worship service. Join us for a time of good food and fellowship; and join us for worship before! Bring your favorite dish to share. Mark the following dates on your calendar:

September 7, 2019 December 7, 2019 March 7, 2020 June 6, 2020

Confirmation Kick Off 6th, 7th & 8th Graders

There will be a Confirmation Kick Off for all parents and students who will be beginning 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in the fall. This Kick Off will be on Sunday, September 22nd at 9:50 am in the Sanctuary. Mark your family calendars now & plan to attend on September 22nd.

Here’s What’s Happening At Messiah

Blessing of the Backpacks Sunday, September 8 @ 8:30 & 11 am

Students of all ages are invited to bring their backpacks to church on Sunday, September 8 for a special “Blessing of the Backpacks” during the 8:30 and 11 am worship services!

Second Sunday Service Project:

Assembling Health Care Kits Sunday, September 8

Join us for our first Second Sunday event on September 8. Together we will serve by assembling health care kits which will be collected by the Women of the ELCA Northeastern Ohio and will go to Lutheran World Relief. Each kit will contain a bath size towel, bars of soap, a toothbrush, tooth-paste, a comb, and nail clippers. Thank you all for your generous donations.

If you would like to help pack kits, join us in the fellowship hall on September 8 from 9:50 – 10:40 am. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Richter at njr17413@gmail.com.

Redeemer Crisis Center

Volunteers are needed on Sun., September 8 to serve a supper at Redeemer Crisis Center, West. 30th & Walton in Cleveland. Their free communi-ty meal is offered once a month and Messiah is providing their supper in September. Preparing food at 3:30 pm; supper served 5-6 pm and clean-up is at 6 pm. Interested? Please contact Jeanette Rebeck at djrebeck@roadrunner.com.

Trunk-or-Treat October 13, 4 –6 pm

Save the date for Messiah’s 4th annual Trunk-or-Treat event. We will be looking for trunk hosts and donations of candy (no nuts please). More de-tails to follow. We look forward to seeing you at this fun and safe annual event!

Annual Meeting September 29, 10 am

Messiah’s annual informational meeting will be held on Sunday, September 29 at 10 am. All are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Lutheran Oktoberfest Saturday, September 21; Noon - 10pm

Greater Cleveland Lutheran Churches present Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 21, from noon - 10 pm at the Metroparks Reservation Big Creek Reservation on Memphis and Tiedeman Roads. Join us for food from Hofbrouhaus and Biergarten, live music, and entertainment for kids. Visit lutheranoktoberfest.com for more information.

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Music Ensembles Starting in September

After a time of refreshment and travel over the summer, Messiah Choir and Joy Ringers will begin their music making seasons once again. We will enjoy the music of singers and ringers coming from the balcony in service and praise to the Lord beginning in September!

Joy Ringers rehearse Monday evenings from 7-8 pm beginning September 9th and will play in services twice a month. Messiah Choir rehearses Thursday evenings from 7-8:30 beginning September 5th and will sing in services three times a month.

Please prayerfully consider whether you may be called to serve in one or more of these ensembles or as an indi-vidual. Season long commitments are welcome, but may not be what’s right for you. You’re welcome to join for a shorter time as your schedule allows, such as in Sep-tember to be a part of Messiah’s 90th anniversary service or in December to serve for Christmas Eve services. Please contact Music Director, Connie Triplett, if you have an interest in using your musical talents in one of these ensembles.

In Christ, Connie Triplett, Director of Music ctriplett@messiahfp.org

Vacation Bible School

This year Messiah Lutheran Church was delighted to welcome 44 young students to our annual Vacation Bible School. Children were invited to spend five days learning about and growing in their own faith, alongside an amazing group of volunteer leaders.

The weeks activities included games, crafts, bible stories, and songs; were centered around this year's 'wild' theme: ROAR. However, in addition to learning about all of the fun Bible Buddies such as Zion the Lion and Mack the Rhino, students were also prompted to explore the more meaningful realities of "life on the savannah.” For example, one of the stations campers were able to visit was Kid Vid Cinema. These short videos, accompanied by instruction from one of our group leaders, offered students a brief glimpse into the lives of five other children living in various countries across Africa.

The goal of this year's program was not only to nurture the faith of students, but also to foster an ongoing sense of empathy in our church's youngest members; and of course, to have a bit of fun along the way! On that note, our campers are excited to share that they collected $125 in donations, and have purchased three water filters to be gifted to those in need through the nonprofit organization Good Gifts ELCA.

Thank you to all of the families who participated in our Safari Celebration, and to all of the volunteers who helped to make such a eventful week possible!

Gourmet Prayer with Priscilla Hinsch

O Lord, Creator, Ruler of the world, Father, I thank, thank, thank you that you have brought me through.

How strong the pain was- but you were stronger. How deep the fall was-

but you were even deeper. How dark was the night-

but you were the noonday sun in it. You are our father,

our mother, our brother and our friend.

Your grace has no end, and your light no snuffer.

- An African Prayer

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Come Celebrate

Messiah’s 90th Anniversary

Messiah Lutheran Church

1929 - 2019

90 Years of God’s Enduring Love

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Messiah Annual Meeting 10 am Festival Worship 11 am Commemorative Luncheon 12:30 pm (in the school Gymnasium)

** A Freewill offering will be accepted for the meal **

Messiah Lutheran Church 21485 Lorain Road

Fairview Park

Menu

Adult Pulled Pork

Chicken Breast Baked Potato Green Beans

Child (10 & Under) Chicken Nuggets Mac-n-Cheese

Cookie

- - - - - - - - - -

Children potty-trained to 10 years old are

invited to a supervised time of food and

entertainment in the fellowship hall from

12:30 - 2 pm

Reservations online or via return postcard by Sept. 8

Special 90th Anniversary gifts are welcome online or with a special offering envelope

Look for your

formal

invitation in

the mail

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September 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 8:30a Holy Communion 10a Holy Communion 7:30p AA

2 No School

Church & School Offices Closed

3 Preschool 3s

1st Day of School

4 Preschool 4s

1st Day of School

9a Chapel

5 7p Choir Rehearsal

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7 5:30p Holy Communion 6:30p Potluck

8 8:30a Holy Communion 9:50a Second Sunday/Education Hour 11a Holy Communion 3:30p Redeemer Crisis Center Meal 7:30p AA

9 7p Joy Ringers

10 6p PTL Meeting 7p Church Council Meet-ing 7p Inquirer’s Meeting

11 9a Chapel 10a Bible Study

12 7p Choir Rehearsal

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14 5:30p Holy Communion

15 8:30a Holy Communion 9:50a Education Hour 11a Holy Communion 11a Children’s Church 7:30p AA

16 6p School Board Meeting 7p Trustees Meeting 7p Joy Ringers

17 7p Inquirer’s Meeting

18 9a Chapel 10a Bible Study 6:30p Bible Study

19 6p Child Abuse Prevention Training 7p Choir Rehearsal

20 9a Child Abuse Prevention

21 5:30p Holy Communion

22 8:30a Holy

Communion 9:50a Education Hour 9:50a Confirmation Kick Off Meeting 11a Holy Communion New Members Received

7:30p AA

23 7p Joy Ringers

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25 9a Chapel 10a Bible Study 6:30p Bible Study

26 6p Laundry Love 7p Choir Rehearsal 8:30p Brass Rehearsal

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28 5:30p Holy Communion

29 10a Annual Meeting 11a Holy Communion 12:30p Messiah’s 90th Anniversary Luncheon 7:30p AA

30 7p Joy Ringers

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Non-Profit Org. US. Postage

PAID Cleveland

Ohio 44126 Permit No. 3829

Messiah Lutheran Church & School

21485 Lorain Rd,

Fairview Park, OH 44126

Phone (440) 331-2405

www.messiahchurchfairview.org

Dated Materials

September 2019

Drawing in to Christ . . . Building up in Christ . . . Sending out for Christ. . .

To the glory of God, through the strength of the Spirit.

Messiah Memos

Insert Label Here

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Messiah Lutheran Church

1929 - 2019

90 Years of God’s Enduring Love

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

Come Celebrate

Messiah’s 90th Anniversary

Sunday, September 29, 2019 Messiah Annual Meeting 10 am Festival Worship 11 am Commemorative Luncheon 12:30 pm

* Please RSVP by September 8 by mail or online at tinyurl.com/mlc90th

Messiah Lutheran Church 21485 Lorain Road

Fairview Park

440-331-2405 messiahfairview.org